4th International Milk Genomics & Human Health Symposium Speaker Program Set

The speaker program for the 4th International Symposium on Milk Genomics & Human Health, to be held November 7-9 at the COPIA Center for Wine, Food & the Arts in Napa, California has been released.

This two-and-a-half-day event, organized by CDRF, gathers international experts in nutrition, genomics, bioinformatics and milk each year to examine the status of milk-specific genomic research.

The event kicks off with a welcome by CDRF Executive Director Joseph O’Donnell, followed by an introduction from Bruce German of UC Davis. Day one sessions will focus on presentations of recent research breakthroughs in the areas of evolutionary genetics; bioinformatics, tools and applications; the bovine genome; and genetic diversity in milk and lactation. Day two will focus on the activities of milk and genomics centers from around the world with the goal to increase coordination among researchers. Topics include the targets of milk bioactives; mammary epithelia and milk production; the milk fat globule proteome; and bacteria—the other consumers of milk.

The symposium will wrap up Friday morning with highlights from researchers throughout the world followed by an in-depth discussion of the International Milk Genomics Consortium, including knowledge management tools developed for the consortium led by the IMGC Web portal group.

Symposium registration is $450 through Sept. 6, 2007, and $500 thereafter and includes all program materials and daytime meals, as well as a Wednesday evening reception. Members of the International Milk Genomics Consortium can register at the rate of $400 through Sept. 6, 2007, and $450 thereafter. Student rates also are available. For registration information, visit www.milkgenomics.org or register at www.acteva.com/go/cdrf.

In addition to the CDRF, sponsors include the International Dairy Federation, U.S. Dairy Export Council as well as IMGC sponsoring members CDRF, CNIEL, DairyAustralia, Dairy Farmers of Canada, Dutch Dairy Association, Mead Johnson Nutritionals and Teagasc.

Tentative Schedule
Bovine QTL Viewer: A Web-accessible Database of Bovine Trait Loci, David Adelson, University of Adelaide, Australia

Bacterial Imprinting of the Immune System, Anne Donnet-Hughes, Nestlé Research Center, Switzerland

Intestinal Barrier Function and Immune Gene Expression, Sharon Donovan, University of Illinois

Ancestral Mammalian Genome, Jenny Graves, The Australia National University

The IMGC Web Portal: Tutorial, Matthew Lange, IMGC Web Portal Group, UC Davis

The IMGC Web Portal: Content & Applications, Danielle Lemay, IMGC Web Portal Group, UC Davis

Milk for Protection, Patrice Martin, Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique, France

The Genomics of Milk Lipid Synthesis, Peggy Neville, University of Colorado Health Sciences Center

Isotopomer Flux Analysis of Bifidobacterium ssp Carbohydrate Metabolism, Neil J. Price, USDA-Agricultural Research Service

Intestinal Transporters and Gut Function, Helen Raybould, UC Davis

The Milk Fat Globule Proteome, Timothy Reinhardt, USDA-Agriculture Research Service

The Bovine Genome Status and Annotation Progress & the Role of Chromatin Conformation in Regulation of Milk Protein Gene Expression, Monique Rijnkels, Baylor College of Medicine, TX

Dutch Milk Genomics Initiative Reveals Large Genetic Variation in Milk-fat Composition, Anke Schennink, Wageningen University, The Netherlands

An Integrative Genomics Program to Explore Lactating Systems to Improve Herd Genetics & Develop Dairy Products, Peter Williamson, The University of Sydney, Australia